Sanitary napkin



Jan. 23, 196s w. F. HIRSCH, 3,364,931

SANITARY NAPKIN Filed Oct. l2, 1964 Y "T l',

VENTOR. WALTER HRSCH BY Mm ATTORMEV.

United States Patent C)4 3,364,931 SANITARY NAPKIN waiter F. Hirsch,6721 sw. 26th sr., Miami, Fia. 3315s Fired ont. 12, 1964, ser. No.403,131 2 Claims. (Cl. 12s-290) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A sanitarynapkin combining an elongated, rectangular, absorbent pad memberprovided along the top with a central longitudanal channel and an outerwrapping of a thin, impervious synthetic plastic film covering thebottom and sides of the pad, the pad member being comprised of a lowerpad half member and a pair of side pad members disposed inlongitudinally-spaced relation upon the lower pad member to deiine saidchannel.

This invention relates generally to improvements in absorbent pads andis directed particularly to a novel sanitary pad or napkin construction.

For maximum eiiiciency and protection with Iminimum pad bulk, it isessential that pad construction be such as to permit gradual absorptionalong the length of the pad. Ordinary rectangular absorbent pads ingeneral use, however, have a tendency to bunch into inverted U-shapewhen worn, thereby compacting the pad and substantially decreasing itsabsorptivity. Such pads, while generally satisfactory, are oftenincapable of quickly enough absorbing heavy surges of fluid liow tolavoid strike-through or even over-flow, resulting in staining theclothing, discomfort, and embarrassment to the wearer. This isparticularly apt to happen if the pad must be worn an eX- tended lengthof time.

It is accordingly the principal object of my invention to provide animproved sanitary pad or napkin that obviates the above describeddeficiencies of ordinary rectangular pads.

It is a more particular object to provide a sanitary napkin whereinabsorptivity is enhanced by the provision of a longitudinal centralchannel along the top of the absorptive padding of the pad structure,and wherein, by virtue of the decrease in bulk in the upper half of thepad resulting from said channel, the pad, when worn, will conform bycompressing laterally from each side for greater comfort and protection.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a sanitary napkin ofthe character described which can be worn for extended periods of timeand which will accommodate heavy flow surges with minimum possibility ofseepage or leakage.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdenote corresponding parts throughout the several views;

FIG. 1 is a top view of sanitary pad or napkin ernbodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view thereof; and

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 each illustrate, in transverse crosssection,modified forms of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and considering iirst the formof the invention illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, the sanitary pad ornapkin comprises a rectangular pad body of an absorbent material,preferably comminuted fibers of cellulose or cotton or another fibrousmaterial suitably supported for structural integrity and shape betweenlayers of crepe multi-ply tissue- The pad body 10 is formed of arectangular lower half pad blii Ptented Jan. 23, 1968 member 11 alongthe top and at each side of which are disposed laterally spaced,opposed, side pad members 12 and 13 dening a coextensive rectangularcentral top channel 14. The pad body 10 is covered with a porouscellulous inner sheet wrapping 15 the marginal side edge portions 16 and17 of which fold loosely into the channel 14, and the ends of whichextend beyond the ends of said pad to provide attachment tabs 18 and 19.The bottom and sides of the pad body 10 are further covered with anouter wrapping or cover 20 of a thin impervious lm, preferablypolyethylene or polyvinyl plastic in the order of one-half thousandth toone thousandth of an inch in thickness, marginal side edge portions 21and 22 of which overlie the top of the wrapping 15 at each side of thepad. A rectangular cover 23 of porous cellulous sheet material isarranged on top of the wrapped pad and secured thereto and to the innerand outer wrappings 15 and 20 by heat sealing with one or two seamsalong each side as indicated at 24 and 25. The cover 23 aids in holdingthe internal pad body 11i lin securely wrapped condition. End portionsof the impervious iilm wrapping or cover 20 extend somewhat beyond theends of the pad body 10 and are attached by heat sealing to centralportions ofthe tabs 18 and 19.

When worn, the pad body 19, because of the substantial decrease in bulkin its upper half due to the channel 14, will tend to compress laterallyrather than bend in conforming to body shape. This lateral compression,while it substantially reduces the width of the channel 14, neverthelessleaves a longitudinal opening or very loosely compacted zone along andthrough which fluid will flow and be quickly absorbed along the lengthof the pad. Abnormally heavy flow will thus be accommodated with minimumdanger of over-flow due to sluggish absorption char acteristic ofordinary solid pads. In the event that the pad must be worn for anunusually long time under a heavy iiow condition, the impervious outercover sheet 2t) forms a protective pocket for the collection of seepagethrough the bottom of the pad until such time as the pad can bereplaced.

A salient feature of my invention resides in the fact that the sides ofthe pad body 14B are covered with an outer impervious film cover 20rather than with an absorbent wrapping. This is important in that itprevents the absorption and gravitation of the uid around thelongitudinal sides of the pad characteristic of pads with absorbentouter wrappings.

The modification of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 differs fromthat of FIGS. 1 and 2 only in that the pad body 10a, instead of beingformed of three separate parts, is integrally formed of a length ofpadding of such width as will permit doubling over of marginal sideportions to provide side pad members 12a and 13a defining a central topchannel 14a.

The modification illustrated in FIG. 4 differs from that of FIG. 3 inthat the side pad members 12b and 13b of the pad body 10b are inwardlyrolled to define a channel 14b that is wider at the top and at thebottom than it is in the middle.

The modication illustrated in FIG. 5 differs from that of FIGS. l and 2in that the enveloping inner sheet wrapping 15 is substituted for by aninner previous top sheet 15b the central portion 15C of which hangsloosely into the channel 14d.

The modification illustrated in FIG. 6 differs from that of FIG. 5 onlyin that the side edges of the pervious top sheet 15d lie above ratherthan below the marginal side edge portions 21, 22 of the outer wrapping20; and in that adhesive, indicated at 26, is applied between the lowerhalf pad member 11e` and side pad members 12C and 13e for greaterstructural strength.

While there is illustrated and described herein only ve forms in whichmy invention can conveniently be ernbodied in practice, it will beunderstood that these forms are presented by way of example only and notin a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all themodiications and embodiments coming within the scope and spirit of thefollowing claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sanitary napkin comprising an elongated absorb- 10 ent pad ofrectangular cross-sectional shape, said pad comprising a lower pad halfmember and a pair of side pad members disposed in longitudinally-spacedrelation upon said lower pad member and defining therebetween, in thetop of said pad, a central longitudinal channel, an outermost wrappingof thin, impervious synthetic plastic film covering the bottom and sidesof said pad, and a Cover wrapping of a flexible pervious sheet materialoverlying the top of said pad and secured along its side edges tomarginal edge portions of said lrn wrapping, end portions of saidpervious sheet cover wrapping extending beyond the ends of said pad toprovide attachment tabs, including an adhesive for securing said sidepad members to said lower pad half member.

2. A sanitary napkin comprising an elongated absorb- 2 ent pad ofrectangular cross-sectional shape, said pad comprising a length ofabsorbent material of rectangular cross-sectional shape having sideportions doubled over at the top to provide opposed, spaced edgeportions thereof defining therebetween, in the top of said pad, acentral, longitudinal channel, an inner sheet wrapping of a flexiblepervious sheet material enveloping said pad and having marginal edgeportions disposed in said channel, an outer wrapping of a thin,impervious synthetic plastic ilm covering the botto-m and sides of saidpad, and a cover `wrapping of a iiexible pervious sheet materialoverlying the top of said pad and secured along its side edges tomarginal `edge portions of said lm wrapping, said inner sheet wrap-pinghaving end portions extending beyond the ends of said pad to provideattachment tabs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,192,439 7/l9l6 Luellen 128-2902,896,626 7/1959 Voigtrnan 12S-290 2,952,259 9/1960 Burgeni 12S-2903,203,419 8/1965 Joa 12S- 290 3,230,955 1/1966 Joa et al 12S-290 RICHARDA. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

C. F. ROSENBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

